Machine for attaching staples and particularly for attaching buttons to articles



A A. J. MATTER. MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STAPLES AND PARTICULAR LY FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS 6.20.1915. RENEWED JUNE 17. 1919.

T0 ARTICLES.

1,336,786.APPL|CATION FILED AU Patented Apr. 13 1920;

A. J. MATTER. I MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STAPLES AND PARTICULARLY FOR ATI'ACHING BUTTONS T0 ARTICLES 4 APPLICATION FILED AUGIZO, I9I5- RENEWED JUNE I7 1919-. v

1,336,786. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

GSHLETS-SHEEI 2.

A. J. MATTER. MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STAPLES AND PARTICULARLY FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS T0 ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED' AUG.20. I915. RENEWED JUNE I7. 19I9.

Patented Apr. 13,1920.

6 SHEEN-SHEET 3.

A. J. MATTER.

PARTICULARLY FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS'TO ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED 'AUG. 20. 1915. RENEWED JUNE MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STAPLES AND 1,336,786

,m v r! r mm /m f 4 mm w m M L w 2 m 1 e M A. J. MATTER.

PARTICULARLY FOR. ATTACHING BUTTONS T0 ARTICLES. APPLICATION FILED AUG-20. 191s. KENEWE MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STAPLES AND D JUNE I7. 1919.

A. J. MATTER.

PARTICULARLY FOR ATTACHING BUTTONS T'O ARTICLES. -APPLICATIDN FILED AUG-20. 1915; RENEWED JUNE 11.

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STAPLES AND A Patented A pr 13 1920.

6 SH n-snaer a. gal

xii far;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT T. MATTER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO NUYAUTOMATIC BUTTON ATTACI-IING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OREGON.

MACHINE FOR ATTACI-IING STAPLES AND PARTICULARLY FOR ATTACI-IING BUTTONS TO ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed August 20, 1915, Serial No. 46,469. Renewed June 17, 1919. Serial No. 304,923.

specification, reference being had to the ac.

companying drawings.

My invention relates to machines for at taching staples to articles and particularly for attaching buttons by aid of staples as to shoes or other objects ready for use, and belongs in its specialized aspect to that type of machine in which a button is supplied, by each operation of the machine, with wire, which having been, by the operation ofthe machine, severed to form a staples length and shaped in respect to such length into a staple, is, in the final operation of the machine, driven through the material composing the shoe or other object, and securely clenched thereto. In its broader aspect as a staple setting machine the only difference contemplated is the omission of the button supply whereby the machine operates simply to set a staple. In my machine, as 111 others of the same type, each cycle of its operation is designed to set a staple, and to make preparation for setting another in uninterrupted succession.

The objects of my present invention are, as will appear more at large from the following specification, numerous. From among the number the following may be selected for special mention.

In the first place, an object of my invention is to reduce the machine to extreme simplicity, and in that way, without any reduction of its efliciency, but rather adding thereto, largely to diminish the cost of its construction and upkeep. At the same time the construction of the machine with fewest and simplest parts, through elimination of many parts which, in their relative operations, produce friction, is made to contribute to the life of the machine no less than to its facility and ease of operation.

By my invention also is attained a directness of coaction between one part and another ,which contributes at once to the simplicity of construction of my machine, its efiiciency, and the ease with which it may be operated in service. I

Another object is to render all parts of the machine subject to convenient access whereby inspection, ordinary repairs, or cleaning or renewal of parts may be effected by even the least skilled mechanic, the opening up of the machine for that purpose being made to depend upon the removal of only one or two or the simplest mechanical elements in familiar use.

Another object is to render certain of the component members of the machine conveniently removable by their simple displacement one after another, without the necessity of'disassembling the entire machine or of the use of tools, until all its working parts may be finally exposed and made completely accessible for any purpose as for inspection, cleaning or repair.

Still another object is to produce a staple setting machine in which the staple setting mechanism proper, on the one hand, and, the power mechanism for operating it, on the other hand, are made in complete severable units, whereby the unit first above mentioned, being of that light and portable construction which characterizes my present machine, and weighing approximately five pounds, may be, by any unskilled hand, conveniently detached as a whole and forwarded, without regard to distance, to the factory, for example, where it may be set up with any power mechanism of standard ized dimensions.

The distinct commercial advantage which this feature of separability into two units presents will be, upon bare suggestion and without enlargement, apparent, in the opportunity it affords for economical repair or exchange of machines, by making it practicable to ship the whole of that mechanism of the machine that may require the attention of specially trained mechanics in a light and compact mailable package, instead of mere disassembled parts or the heavy and bulky crated package in which otherwise, the entire machine must be, irrespective of distance of shipment, prepared for transportation.

In respect to those as well as to other objects of my invention, it is noted that what constitutes my invention will be hereinafter specified in detail and succinctly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a staple settingmachine embodying in the completeness of its organization button supplying mechanism.

Figure I is a perspective view looking toward the front of my machine as at rest and complete save only in respect to the foot or other power for operating it, which is only indicated.

Fig. II is a side elevation, with broken lines used as required, of the machine as shown in Fig. I, but looking at it from the opposite side. I

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. II, but partly in section and partly omitted or broken away, completely illustrative, by aid of broken lines wherever required, of the intermediate positions of the working parts shown therein, during the operation of the machine.

Fig. IV is a view similar to Fig. III showing the final button setting operation of the machine.

Fig. V is a rear elevation of the subject matter material to Fig. I, broken lines being employed as required for completeness of "illustration.

Fig. VI is a median vertical section, partially in elevation and in broken lines, of the machine, looking at it as in Fig. II and with its parts in the relative positions shown therein.

Fig. VII is a side elevation, corresponding to Fig. II, but showing the machine without the face plate, king pin, and other parts distinctively designated in this specification as removable, showing also the two units into which the machine is divisible slightly separated, and showing the movable parts that are attached to the case severally thrown into positions to expose them to view. The upper end of the power operated rod is shown as in the position it occupies when the machine is operatively assembled.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary top plan view, regarding principally the wire-feed mechanism, to show the wire-feed arm in intermediate position.

Fig. I; is a partial top plan view of the case, partly in section, with face plate removed, showing the wire fed thereinto, and also the parts exposed by removal of the face plate in the positions they occupy in Fig. I, for example.

Fig. X shows, in view similar to Fig. IX, the parts exposed upon removal of the unitary assemblage of parts shown in Fig. XI.

Fig. XI is a perspective side view of the parts Whose removal from Fig. IX constitutes in Fig. X the difference between Figs. IX and X.

Fig. XII is a view similar to Fig. XI with the driver absent.

Fig. XIII is a detail section as indicated by the line XIII-XIII in Fig. VI.

Fig. XIV is a top plan of the face plate of the case detached and with the button chute applied thereto, the upper end of the chute being broken away.

Fig. XV is a detail view, taken as indi cated by line XVXV in Fig. II and corresponding to Fig. XIV, showing the chutelatch.

Fig. XVI is a detail view partially in section and partially in elevation showing the relation of the king-pin to the parts which it unites in the assembled machine, the section line being, indicated by XVIXVI in Fig. VI.

Fig. XVII is a side elevation of the kingpin shown in Fig. XVI, detached.

Fig. XVIII is a detail elevation partly broken away of the mainspring supporting stirrup and its support, see Fig. VI.

Fig. XIX is a detail side elevation of the detent mechanism for the wire-feed-arm controlling drum, indicated by arrow XIX in Fig. II.

Fig. XX illustrates in detail side elevation a portion of the feed-arm controlling drum and its back stop mechanism.

Fig. XXI is a perspective view of the wire cutting shear plug.

Fig. XXII is a detail top view of the subject matter of Fig. XX

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, 1 indicates the main assembling member or supporting frame of my machine. It is also hereinafter sometimes designated the case because it serves in preferred embodiment to incorporate within itself and the members contained within it or operatively attached to it, one of the two separable units into which, as has been specified, the machine is divisible.

The frame or case 1, constituting the first unit referred to, is separably attached to the second unit of the machine as by the aid of a top plate or table 2 provided with apertures suitably disposed to receive either thumb screws 3 introduced through the bottom of the case, or dowel pins a. The screws 3 serve to firmly secure the case to the top plate 2 and afford convenient means for detaching the parts whenever desired, the dowel pins 4 cooperating therewith to hold the parts in true relative position.

The second unit referred to in the last paragraph comprehends any suitable mechanism for applying power to operate the mechanism carried by the case 1. To that end, it comprises in addition to the top plate 2 preferred, a stand of any usual construction, or such as is preferred and suitable for that type of machine to which my invention belongs. A tubular standard 5, and within it a reciprocating rod 6 which derives its motion from foot or other power mechanism, not necessary to illustrate, are shown in the drawings as representative of any suitable power supplying support for the case 1 and its appurtenant mechanism.

The rod 6 is distinctive in construction in so far as it preferably carries a bifurcated head 7 projecting laterally beyond the rod a sufficient distance to afford a seat for the upper end of a spring 9 that is preferably coiled about the rod 6 and whose lower end finds support as in a stirrup 10 whose opposite inverted ends form hooks 11 to engage the top of the standard 5 and secure the stirrup thereto and within the same (compare Figs. VI and XVIII). The rod 6 works freely through a hole 12 provided for it in the bottom of the stirrup 10, and

the spring 9, by its expansive power, im-

parts a normal but yielding uplift to the rod 6 within the standard 5. A down pull upon the rod 6 must, in order to actuate it, overcome the resistance of the spring 9,

which, in being compressed, stores up in its expansive resiliency enough power to return the rod and connected mechanism to normal position whenever down-pull upon the said rod is relieved. In this way the spring 9 constitutes a part of the power supplying mechanism, whereof it is representative, and also acts as a mainspring to the machine.

The case 1, being preferably a hollow casting made to admit of the introduction of the head 7 into it from below and of shape and dimensions indicated to accommodate the various working parts of the machine that are assembled with it, preferably comprises a base plate 13 adapted to make a snug fit with the top plate 2. Its shape is susceptible of any suitable variation desired, but as illustrated and preferred it comprises side walls or cheek-plates 15 and 16 united in the rear by an integral wall 17. Other parts included incidentally in the casting designated by the general term frame or case will be indicated in their proper places as they appear hereinafter in this specification.

By my invention, all the staple setting as well as the button attachingt mechanism proper, that is to say all the members appurtenant to the case or frame 1 as a separable unit derive their direct actuation, as distinguished from reverse actuation, and some members their reverse actuation from one member which, for that reason, I denominate the actuator 18, observing only for the sake of accuracy that the actuator communicates certain movements through a king-pin 20, which in the assembled machine is united to, and is, in effect, a part of the actuator. The king-pin (compare particularly Figs. XVI and XVII) serves to unite the head 7 of the rod 6 into operative combination with the actuator, and affords means, through its removal, to permit, upon the additional removal only of the screws 3, the separation of the machine into its two component units without any disassemblement of either unit. In this connection it is observed that the king-pin, in its preferred form shown in Fig. XVII, is a smooth slip pin, and that both it and the screws 3 may be designated distinctively as removable because they may both be readily set and removed without the aid of tools.

The actuator 18 (compare Figs. V, VI, and VII) is, in its preferred form illustrated, a lever of irregular contour and is preferably provided with a hub 21 by which it is mounted so as to rock upon a headed shaft 22 preferably journaled in suitable bearings 23 provided for it in the casting that forms the frame or case 1. In respect to preferred structural detail it may be observed that the abutting bearing faces of the hub 21 and the bearings 23, respectively, are provided with segmental projections 25 and 26, respectively, which construction serves to space the hub between the supports with a minimrun contact of abrasive or friction-generating surfaces be tween the bearing parts.

The irregularity of contour of the actuator above referred to is due to the variety of functions required of it. Its primary function and one of the chief functions it has to perform is to actuate the stapledriver 31 besides the staplebender 30, both of which correspond to members old and well known in the art to which my invention belongs. Other means than those employed by me for actuating such bender and driver are also well known in the art and have become. public property. My invention, as herein shown in respect to the actuator particu larly, is found in providing means for effecting direct immediate positive engagement between it and the staple bending, driving and shaping means. Moreover, it being a re quirement of the art that the operations of the driver and the bender should follow in successive order, and that the movement of the bender should be interrupted before that of the driver is concluded, I accomplish that twofold function by the means described in the following paragraph.

I provide my actuator with two driving members preferably spurs 32 and 33 having preferably severally different radial extents from the center about which the actuator turns, to-wit the axis of the shaft 22, and dispose the shorter spur 32 of the actuator within operative reach of the staple-bender, but out of reach of the staple-driver which,

though carried at times along with the staple-bender, is made to depend for its proper operative action upon engagement with it of the longer spur 33. In consequence of the arrangement and disposition of the parts as described in the last sentence, the extreme points of the respective driving spurs 32 and 33, in the rocking movement of v the actuator, describe different arcs as indicated by the arrows a and b, respectively, in Fig. IV of the drawings. Another consequence of the said arrangement and disposition will appear upon comparison of Figs. VI, III, and IV, reading them in the order named. In Fig. VI the normal position of the parts, as when the machine is at rest, is shown, wherein the spur 32 is ready to engage the staple-bender 30 while the spur 33 is separated from the staple-driver 31 by a considerable distance which it must travel before it reaches operative engagement therewith.

In Fig. III is sh 'wn advance of the actuator to an intermediate position, in which the spur 32 is, through the rotative movement of the actuator and -the consequent propulsion of the staple-bender 30, about to leave engagement with the staple-bender, and in which the spur 33 begins to make positive engagement with the staple-driver 31 to impart thereto its proper operative action referred to in the preceding paragraph.

In Fig. IV is shown the final button setting operation of the machine. It shows the completion of the operation of the stapledriver 31 under actuation of the spur 33 after liberation of the staple-bender 30 from the driving spur 32, which actuation beginning as shown in Fig. III, as above described, continues throughout the remainder of the cycle of operation of the actuator.

In the preferred form of embodiment of my invention herein shown and described the staple-bender and the superposed stapledriver are reciprocatory elements working between parallel planes parallel to their respective longitudinal axes. The effect accomplished by my invention as described in the last two paragraphs is attained by making their transverse medial planes, substantially coincident with the said axes, tangential to the curves described by the ends of the driving spurs 32 and respectively.

To the end last named, the case is made to include cheek plates 15 and 16, as affording convenient and suitable accommodation be tween them for the staple-bender and stapledriver within a guide way provided for them. The guide way is defined below by oppositely projecting longitudinally extendingfianges 35 (see Fig. XIII), and above by a face plate 36 that is removably secured as by screws 37 and 38 to the plane top flange 40 of the cheek plates. The desired disposition and direction of reciprocation of the stap1e-bender and staple-driver are obtained by locating the flanges 35, the face plate 36, and face of the top flange 40 in planes parallel to tangents to the curves described by the extreme points of the spurs 32 and 33 in the rotative movement of the actuator 18.

It is not an unimportant detail of my present invention that the staple bender and the staple driver are combined one with the other as clearly shown in Fig. XI, and so mounted between the main supporting sides of the machine frame that besides being adapted for certain cooperation, they may be handled as a unit.

In the preferred general form shown and described and well known in the art, the staple-bender 30 is bifurcated and provided in its opposite legs with the usual staple grooves 41 communicating, respectively, with terminal staple grooves 42. The stapledriver 31 fits between the legs of the staplebender, and, feathered to the grooves 41 thereof, as by feathers 43, is provided with the usual button shank channel 44 and with the driving face 45, whose function it is to c-lench the staple against an anvil 46.

Distinctive features of the bender and shaper are found in a transverse recess 47 in the member 30, a slotted guide head 48 being employed for holding and guiding the staple-driver 31, as well as in cross-arm pins 49 and a tail-piece 50 upon the member 31.

The recess 47 affords a spring box within the member 30, on each side of the member 31 when assembled with the member 30, wherein, respectively, are nested and confined by the face plate 36, when in place, expansive coiled springs 51 and 52. These springs are seated at one end, respectively, against the forward end wall of the recess 47 and at the other end, respectively, against the cross-arm pins 49, and thus, the pins 49, acting against the head 48 also as stop pieces to the member 31, serve at once to maintain a normal relationship and interdependence between the parts 30 and 31, and to effect a yielding forward movement to the member 30 when liberated from its spur 32 under driving impulse imparted by the spur 33 directly to the member 31.

More specifically to describe that relationship and interdependence named in the last sentence, the tail-piece 50, being normally spaced by action of the springs 51 and 52 at the limit of distance from the head 48 imposed by the stop pins 49, affords means for the driving spur 32, with each reverse movement thereof, to make direct engagement through its heel with the stapledriver 31 and through the driver with the staple-bender 30, in order to restore them both to their initial positions in their cycle of operation (see Fig. VI).

It is common in staple setting machines of that type to which my present invention belongs to provide a staple-shaper with which the staple-bender and the staple-driver cooperate i" the forming and setting of a staple. In respect to its function my stapleshaper is substantially identical with what is old in the art, but it possesses novelty in point of construction and relationship to other parts, and contributes novelty to the combinations into which, in accordance with my invention, it enters. Thus to give it rigidity and stability I prefer to construct my staple-shaper, indicated as a whole by the numeral 55, of a pair of side plates 56 and 57 united in rigid parallel relationship by a cross-piece terminal 58 which projects in the form of a grooved shaper head 60 substantially of usual shape and function (see for example Fig. X). The plates 56 and 57 are pivoted to the case 1 as upon a pintle 61 and straddle the actuator 18 (see for example Fig. V) each in turn affording direction and lending stability to the other. The pintle 61, contributing to the general plan of convenience of disassemblement which my machine embodies, is a smooth pin which is secured in place against accidental displacement by the face plate screw 37, to receive which an annular recess 61 is provided in the pintle (see Fig. VI for illustration of relationship of pintle 61 and screw 37 in detail).

F or the purpose of simplifying certainof the claims hereunto appended the term staple forming and setting mechanism is used. That term comprehends broadly the operative combination with a frame comprising an anvil of a staple-driver a staple-bender, a staple-shaper, and an actuator, each of which is shown and described in this specilication in preferred form of embodiment only.

The outer surfaces of the side plates 56 and 57 are confined, so as to work smoothly, between the cheek-plates 15 and 16 of the case 1, which, in order to minimize friction in that regard, are preferably provided, respectively, with oppositely projecting bosses or studs 62 and 63.

Direct actuation of the staple-shaper 55 by the actuator 18 is accomplished, in the assembled machine, through engagement of the king-pin 20 of the actuator with a compound cam slot 65 formed in the side plates 56 and 57 of the shaper. The contour of the slot 65 may be of any suitable and preferred shape, preferably as illustrated clearly in Fig. VII, and in its entirety,with its two parts 55 and 65" inclusive. The slot portion 65 is shaped so as to permit rotation of the actuator, from the starting position shown for instance in VI, to that point at which the staple-bender has performed its wire cutting and staple bending function, without actuating the stapleshaper. After those functions are completed the slot portion 65 through engagement therewith of the king-pin 20, actuates the staple-shaper 55 to withdraw its head 60 out of the way of the advancing stapledriver 31. The cam 65, being as stated a slot, effects positive actuation of the staple- )ivoted as u )011 a screw 73 to the case and which is yieldingly held in operative engagement as aforesaid with the kingpin by a tensile spring 75, secured at one end to a notch 76 on the holder and at the other end to a pin 77 projecting from the case. The ofiice of the button-holder is positively to hold the lowermost button 78 of a series in position to receive the wire by which, when formed into a staple, it is, in the operation of the machine, to be secured to a shoe or other article indicated by the numeral 80 in Fig. IV. To that end it is provided with a jaw 81 that extends parallel to the holder from the end of a cross over 82. that spans the width of the cheek piece 15, see, particularly, Fig. I. It is desirable,for reasons which will hereinafter appear, that the jaw should be disengaged from the button at the beginning and end of the actuator stroke (compare Figs. II and IV), and to that end I provide substantially at the ends of the cam face 71 cam projections 83 and 84:, which actuate the holder 72 against the tension of its spring 75 to lift the jaw 81 clear of the terminal button in the chute.

The face-plate 36 when secured in position on the case by the means of the screws 37 and 38, carries a button chute 90., which, being provided on its lower side with a longitudinal slit 92 extending through the chute from end to end thereof, is adapted for the travel through it of a succession of buttons, which are impelled by gravity from the top toward the bottom of the chute. The shanks of the buttons enter the slit 92 of the chute and are by it confined and directed in their downward travel through the chute, which is preferably carried at such an angle to the faceplate 36 as will enable the buttons to travel freely through it. It is also preferably made, by convenient but secure means, detachable from the face-plate, and to that end, I prefer to provide it with an arched keeper 93 (compare for example Figs. I and XIV), whose arch may be se cured over the top of the chute by any suitable means as for example, a soldered connection. Upon opposite sides of the arch, the keeper is provided with lugs 91 that are adapted to slip downwardly against the face-plate 36 underneath the broad heads of pins 95, which project in proper relative disposition above the face-plate.

,There are preferably three lugs 94, while lugs with the heads of the pins 95. At the same time, by aid of the projection 97, it is adapted to be engaged and held between the teeth 98 and, 99 of a dog 100 pivoted upon the screw 73 between the button-holder 72 and the adjacent outside face of the cheek-plate 15. The ends of the teeth 98 and 99, respectively, are snubbed as shown in Fig. II, in order to facilitate the sliding engagement and disengagement therewith of the projection 97. Below the screw 73, a tail 101 projects downwardly in the path of a stop pin 102 and is fastened to one end 103 of a coiled spring 10t, which is fastened at its opposite end, as is indi-' cated at 105, to the projecting end of the pin 61.

I prefer to provide in the lower end of the chute 90 an oblong longitudinal recess 106, as shown in Fig. XIV, located in the upper wall of the chute and adapted to afford access for the jaw 81 to the lowermost button 78 of the series of buttons within the chute. Suitable means at the lower end of the chute should also be provided to engage the lowermost button of the series and hold the button yieldingly against discharge from the chute by gravity, but which will permit the passage of the lowermost button under impulse of the actuator as the operation of the machine demands. A preferred means for accomplishing that end is found in a pair of resilient parallel wires 108, which extend upon opposite sides of the recess 106 and which terminate, respectively, in projections 109, which extending at right angles from the wires 108, across the open end of the chute partially obstruct it (compare Figs. VI and XIV).

An important feature of my invention resides in means for regulating the forward movement of the staple-driver 31. This I prefer to accomplish by making the operation of the member 31 the primary object of the motion of the actuator and then limiting the rotative or driving movement of the actuator from which the staple-driver derives its motion. Accordingly, I prefer to provide the actuator with a stop piece 110 (clearly shown in Fig. VI), which in the movement of the actuator swings radially about the axis of the shaft 22. In the path of its movement I provide in the case a set screw 111, having a lock nut 112. The end 113 of the set screw encounters the stop piece 110 with, the effect of limiting the movement of the actuator at a point determined by the adjustment of the screw 111. By these means it is possible to regulate the throw of the staple-driver 31 to a nicety and to adapt it to operate against material represented by the numeral 80 of different thicknesses without danger of crushing the material or marring its finish. It should be observed in this connection that by making the operation of the driver 31 primary to the actuator and subordinating the operation of other parts thereto, and partly because of the interposition of the spring 9 between the actuator 18 and its power supplying mechanism, the interruption of the movement of the actuator in the manner de scribed may be accomplished without injurious effect upon the machine or without interference with the completion of its cycle of operation.

I shall now proceed to describe the wire feed mechanism of my machine. Upon a suitable shelf 115, preferably provided as an extension to the top plate 2, I prefer to provide a drum 116, the shelf and the drum being adapted to carry, as shown in Fig. I, a coil of wire 117. As a suitable and convenient means of confining the wire in coil, I provide an arm 118 pivoted as indicated at 119 to a projection consisting preferably of a guard plate 120, extending upwardly from the shelf 115. The arm 118 preferably terminates in a spring catch. 121 that is adapted to engage a notch 122 in the edge of the shelf. For the better confinement of the wire 117, notches 123 are preferably provided in the top of the drum 116, to receive and countersink the arm 118 when its catch 121 is in engagement with its notch 122.

From the coil of wire upon .the shelf 115, the end of the wire is led across a table 125, from the face of which project three disalined studs, one intermediate, 126, and two laterals, 127 and 128. The studs, being preferably provided with suitable anti-friction rollers, are designed to permit the feed of the wire 117 from the coil toward the cheekplate 16 under tension applied near the end of the wire, with the desired effect of straightening the wire as it is paid out in that direction. Besides the object of straightening the wire to which the stud 126 contributes, I employ in conjunction with the stud a bell crank lever secured to the table 125 as upon a pivot screw 130 to confine the wire against backward movement. One arm 131 of the lever is adapted to engage the wire from the coil and force it against the stud 126, thus preventing backward movement of the wire at the same time that it 1s sub ected to the operative straightening effectupon it of the studs 126, V

of the arm 132 preferably projects some dis tance beyond the spring 133 in order to afford convenient means for manipulating the bell crank, of which it is a part, against the tension of the spring 133, whereby the withdrawal of the wire end from the machine when desired is facilitated.

The feed of the wire end is directed toward an aperture provided for it in the cheek-plate 16, such aperture being common in machines of this type. It is a novelty of my present invention to provide, for the accommodation of the aperture last referred to, a certain wire cutting shear-plug 137 (compare Figs. IX and XXI). Heretofore in machines of the class to which my inven tion belongs, the severing of the wire into staple lengths has been accomplished by a shearwise action between the reciprocatory staple-bender across the edge of a perforate aperture formed directly in its case or in a plug in the case, but the shearing effect upon the wire has been accomplished between blades rectangularly disposed one toward the other. By my invention through the employment of the removable plug 137, not only is provision made for the introduction of a cutting member, which may be properly made of tool steel, and which may be renewed as often as desired, but also, by providing through it a longitudinal slot 138 having an inclined wall 139, a sharp cutting edge is presented by the inclined wall for the shearwise action against it of the staplebender 30, (see Fig. IX), with the effect of materially reducing the power necessary to the operation of the machine, and practi cally eliminating the shock incidental to the cutting of the wire heretofore experienced in the operating of button attaching machines generally. The substitution of the slot 138 for a perforate aperture in the plug affords reduction in the cost of manufacture.

Between the outer end of the shear-plug 137 and that extension of the top plate 2 which carries the table 125, and which is spanned by the wire 117 in its travel toward the shear-plug, I provide a clear space of ample size to accommodate within it the oscillatory movements of a wire feed arm 140, that is hinged as upon a pintle 1 11 to a bracket support 142 projecting from the side of the case upon which the cheek-plate 16 is located. Provision is made in the construction of the machine, as illustrated, for lending rigidity to the arm 1-10 in its movements about its pivot 141 (compare Figs. I and V). Such rigidity is necessary to adapt it to operate with mechanical accuracy and dependability, but its connection with the flexible wire 117 must be somewhat delicate in effect. To that end I provide upon the arm HO, near its free end, a swinging lever 145 (compare Figs. I and VIII), which is pivoted to the arm 140 as by a screw 1 16, from which it extends substantially equidistantly in opposite directions. At its lower end the lever 1&5 carries a wire engaging stud 117, corresponding substantially to the stud 126, and provided like the stud 126, with a bell crank lever pivoted to the lever 1&5, as indicated at 148. The lever last named comprises an arm 149 that engages the wire 117 and an arm 150 that is actuated by a spring 151 secured at one end of the arm 150 and at the other to a notch 152 in the lever 1 15. t should be observed that the arms 150 and 132 are in operative juxtaposition. one with the other and in substantially the same plane. By such arrangement both levers may be conveniently manipulated by one hand of an operator for the release of the wire 117, a feature of considerable convenience in practice.

The other end of the lever 145 from that which carries the stud 147 is .yieldingly actuated by a spring 155 introduced between suitable seats provided for it in that end of the lever and the cheek-plate, respectively. The function of the spring 155, besides that of opposing yielding resistance to movement of the arm 1 10 upon its pivot, is to relieve the force of the stroke of the arm 1 10 upon the wire 117 as the end of that stroke is reached, so as to prevent any danger of buckling the wire in consequence of its encountering any obstruction, such, for example, as that which it encounters against the face of the cheek-plate 15 and which would be augmented if the length of wire between its extremity and the arm 1 19, where it engages the stud 1417, were even a trifle excessive. In other words, the lever 145 with its means of engagement with the wire 117 at the one end and the spring 155 at the other, in connection with the arni 14-0, exemplifies what may be designated broadiy as compensating mechanism for the wire feed.

Let it be observed in connection with the wire feeding mechanism that the wire is fed to the machine through the slot 138 of the shear-plug 137 upon the forward stroke of the staplebender 30. This in itself is not new, but it is rendered practically important by certain novel additions to it. By my invention the bender 30 is so timed to the operation of the wire feed as to effect delivery of a staples length of wire between the cheek-plates 15 and 16 well before the bender in its advance engages the shear edge of the plug 137. Up to this time, if for any reason it become desirable to do so, the wire may be drawn back by hand upon simple manipulation of the lever arms 182 and 150 in the manner previously described, thereby avoiding waste of wire and a button. The

necessity for such manipulation would not be likely to arise very frequently in practice, but when it does the provision for it serves a purpose. Ordinarily when the machine is operated in service every operation would be a completed one with the effect of setting a staple. After a staples length is sheared from the end of the wire, the feeding tendency of the lever 145 continues, but the'stub end of the wire of the coil is by my invention engaged and its further advance resisted by the side wall of the bender 30, until, in its return movement, the forward end of the bender passes the inner end of the slot 138. By my invention also the back stroke of the lever 145, which releases the grip of its lever arm 149 upon the wire against the stud 147, preparatory to taking a fresh grip upon the wire for feeding it forward, is made well in advance of the moment at which the stub end of the wire is, in the manner set forth in the last sentence, disengaged by the side wall of the bender 30. Consequently, no feed of the wire into the machine is made except upon the driving stroke of the actuator 18, upon which the wire feeding stroke of the lever 145 is made to depend. It is by this simplebut novel means, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that a considerable waste both in re spect to wire and buttons, as well as in respect to time, is avoided, it being made possible for an operator at any time to remove, as for the substitution of one chute for another in order to effect a change of buttons, the chute 90 with its full complement of buttons. If a button already withdrawn from the chute and confined by its staple remain in the machine, it remains ready for completion only of the setting operation, which in my machine does not entail that wasteful Wire feed common to other machines, which after the setting of every button either engage another or at least feed the Wire toward such engagement.

I prefer to include in the wire feed mechanism a step by step driving member, which, working synchronously with the actuator and preferably deriving motion therefrom, is adapted to receive each increment of its intermittent movement from an advance of the actuator beyond the point at which any preceding partial stroke ended, whereby in case any stroke is interrupted, the said driving member must await the completion of said stroke before it completes a step of its intermittent motion. As a result of such provision, it follows, as will hereinafter more fullyappear, that the step by step driving member having partially performed its function under impulse of the actuator, as for example, upon a partial stroke thereof, must await the completion of that stroke before accomplishing its function upon which the staple shearing operation of the machine also waits. The present preferred form of embodiment of my step by step driving member is that of a wheel or disk 157, provided with a peripheral flange 158, having upon its edge a series of teeth 159 cquidistantly disposed one toward another and each provided on one side with an inclined face 160. The wheel 157 is preferably fixed to the shaft 22 as by a pin 163 and derives motion preferably from the actuator as by interposition of a pawl 161 pivoted, as indicated at 162, to a stud 166 projecting from a radial arm 165 extending from the hub 21 of the actuator 18. One end of the pawl 161 is notched as indicated at 167 to engage ratchetwise with the wheel 157, for whose engagement each tooth 159 is preferably provided with a rectangularly disposed face 169 upon the side opposite its inclined face 160.

The pawl 161 is provided upon its end opposite its notched end 167- with a tailpiece 170, preferably having a return portion 171 to accommodate the length of the stud 166 and to bring the end of the tailpiece into convenient juxtaposition to the hub 21. The end of the tailpiece 170 is operatively connected as by a coiled spring 173 to a hitch pin 174 on the hub 21. A stop piece 175 upon the stud 166 by engagement with the return portion 171, serves to limit the movement of the pawl under actuation of its spring 173. Figs. II, V, and XIX will upon comparison afford ample illustration of the details of this construction in its present preferred form of embodiment.

The arm 140, under impulse of spring 155 and carrying preferably a stud 176 prefer ably provided with an antifriction roller 177, is engaged at intervals by the faces 160 of the teeth 159 as they are advanced in successive order through the rotation of the wheel 157. A further explanation of the step by step operation of the wire feed mechanism derived from the rotation of the wheel 157 will now be clearly intelligible. The wheel 157 remains idle except when, by engagement of one of its teeth 159 by the pawl 161, it receives a driving impulse. If

such an impulse be continued through a complete stroke of the actuator 18, a full increment of its step by step motion will be im parted to the wheel 157 If, however, a stroke of the actuator be commenced and, being interrupted for any cause, the actuator be returned by its spring 9 to its starting position, it will have, in such return, no effect'upon the wheel 157, and will not produce any efiect upon it until it shall have again reached that point of advance, at which in its previous return stroke it left the wheel 157. The practical importance of this feature is that the feed of the wire 117 being made upon the working stroke of the actuator 18 is made dependent upon the completion of that stroke, and that incomplete movements of the actuator produce no final effect upon the wire feed mechanism. By the provision described in the last four paragraphs a waste of wire and of buttons when used is eliminated, and a simple direct control of the wire feed mechanism is effected in place of the more or less complicated devices heretofore proposed for interrupting the operation of the wire feed mechanism.

In order the better to insure stability of the wheel 157 so as to hold it in intermediate positions to which it may be advanced by partial movements of the actuator 18, I prefer to provide for it a brake or backstop, clearly shown in simple and preferred form of embodiment in Figs. XX and XXII. In those figures a standard 177' extending upwardly from the base plate 13 is provided with a shouldered pin 178, which works in a vertical guide aperture 17 9 provided for it in the standard 177, and receives an uplift from a coiled spring 180 seated at its upper end against the shoulder of the pin 178 and at its lower end against the lower face 181 of a recess provided in the standard. The pin 178 carries a roller 182, which is projected by the spring 180 into the tapering space between the rim of the wheel 157 and the opposing side wall of the aperture 179, with the effect of a brake action upon the wheel 157, and positive prevention of its movement in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. XX. On the contrary, movement in the direction of the arrow may be effected at any time against the slight resistance of the spring 180.

The operation of my machine may be described as follows. Assuming that the parts of the mechanism are in the relative position indicated in Figs. I, II, and VI of the drawings. the operator imparts, through the foot power or other mechanism provided for the purpose, a downward movement to the rod against the resistance of the spring 9. The head 7 of the rod 6 through its engagement with the king-pin 2O imparts rotative movement to the actuator 18 about its shaft 22. The initial effect thereof is to produce engagement between the driving spur 32 and the staplebender 30, and at the same time actuating the wire feed mechanism with the effect of severing a staples length of the wire 117, measured by the span bet-ween the opposing inner faces of the cheek-plates 15 and 16, as shown in Fig. IX. After the wire is severed the continued advance of the staplebender30 bends the staples length of wire about the staple-shaper-head 60 and sets the ends of the staple (indicated at 117 in Fig. III) in a forwardly projecting di-- rection within the staple grooves 41. At this point the spur 32 breaks engagement with the member 30 (see Fig. III), and the spur 33, having in its movement filled the gap, indicated in Fig. VI, between it and the staple-driver 31, begins to impart positive motion to the member 31, which has, under impulse of the spur 32, hitherto received forward movement only through its connection with the member 30, through the cross arm pins 49.

It should be taken into account that when my machine is used for attaching buttons the lowermost button 78 of series of buttons in the chute 90 is assumed to be in position to receive the end of the wire 117 when it is fed into the machine, as shown in Fig. IX. Consequently, the staple when severed and bent into shape includes within its bend and carries with it the button. The advance of the staple-driver 31 causes, throu h the interposition of the springs 51 and 52 between it and the member 30, the latter to advance with a yielding and presser foot action toward and finally against the material 80, into which the staple is to be set. Also the advance of the stapledriver 31 drives the staple outwardly through the grooves 41 and causes the button attached to the staple, if the staple is to carry a button, to pass out between the yielding projections 109 which obstruct the discharge end of the chute 90. The final operation of setting and clenching the staple through the material 80 against the anvil 16 is well understood in the art and requires no special explanation.

At the time when the staple-driver 31 be gins its movement under positive actuation of the driving spur 33, it becomes necessary to cause the withdrawal of the stapleshaper-head 60 from the line of advance of the staple-driver. This is accomplished by positive actuation of the staple-shaper through engagement of the king-pin 20 with the slot 65 in the side plates 56 and 57. As has been specified, the shape of the slot section 65 is such as to permit the movement of the king-pin 20 to a point a little in ad vance of that at which it begins, through impulse imparted to the actuator, to advance the staple-driver 31. The action of the slot section 65- at this point imparts abrupt motion to the staple-shaper 55 to withdraw its head 60 out of the path of both the members 30 and 31 (compare Figs. III and IV).

During the movement of the king-pin 20, the last above described, it has been making engagement with the cam face 71 of the button-holder 7 2, with consequent operation of the jaw 81 of the button-holder. At the starting point the projection 83 of the cam face 71 serves to lift the jaw 81 away from the end of the chute 90, as is clearly shown in Fig. II, thereby permitting free descent of the lowermost button 78 to the position,

which, in operation, it should assume below the jaw. As soon as the king-pin 20 clears the projection 83, the jaw 81 descends under contractile power of the spring 75, against the button 78 and positively centers the shank of the said button to register with the end of the wire 117 as it is fed toward it'through the slot 138, as is clearly shown in Fig. VI of the drawings. The extremity of the projection 8-1 is reached by a gradual curve of the cam face 71, with the effect of releasing the button 7 8 from the jaw 81 at the proper time and of effecting a disengaging uplift of the jaw from the end of the chute at the end of the stroke of the actuator, as will clearly appear by reference to Fig. IV of the drawings. 4

It should be observed that in the position last referred to the lowermost button 78 in the chute 9O occupies the proper position to receive a staples length of wire upon the next stroke of the machine, but is as yet not engaged therewith. Being therefore free from the wire and from the jaw 81, the operator may remove the chute with its complement of buttons and without consequent waste, which the removal of the chute in button attaching machines generally has hitherto entailed. This feature of the operation of my machine has already been set forth at large in the specification relating to the wire feed mechanism and nothing further in respect thereto or to the operation of the wire feed mechanism in other details appears to be necessary.

hat I claim is:

1. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with its frame, staple bender, staple driver, and staple shaper, of an oscillating actuating means, operative means severally and independently directly connecting the actuating means and the said bender, driver, and shaper, respectively, and means operatively connecting said bender and driver.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with its frame, staple-bender, staple-driver and staple-shaper, of oscillating actuating means making direct operative engagement with the said bender, driver and shaper, and adapted in its oscillation to actuate those members successively and independently.

3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with its frame staple-bender, staple-driver and a staple-shaper, of oscillating actuating means adapted in its oscillation in both directions to directly and immediately actuate the bender, driver and shaper successively and in both directions.

4:. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, a vertically reciprocatory rod and a staple-driver movable upon the frame, of a main actuator movably mounted on the frame in direct connection with said rod and separate means for direct engagement between the actuator and the driver in both direct and reverse movements respectively of the actuator.

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, a vertically reciprocatory driving rod, a staple-driver, and staple-bender movable upon the frame, of an actuator movably mounted on the frame in direct connection with said rod and means for effecting direct initial operative connection between both the bender and the driver and the actuator, said means being normally out of operative engagement therewith.

6. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and a vertically disposed oscillatory actuator mounted thereon and provided with a pair of radially disposed driving members of different lengths lying in the same plane, of a staple-driver adapted directly to initially engage one of said driving members, and a like staplebender adapted directly to engage the other driving member.

7. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and a vertically disposed oscillatory actuator mounted thereon and provided with a pair of radially disposed driving members of different lengths lying in the same plane, of a reciprocatory staple-driver adapted directly to initially engage one of said driving members, and a like reciprocatory staple-bender adapted directly to engage the other driving member.

8. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and a vertically disposed oscillatory actuator mounted thereon and provided with a pair of radially disposed driving members of different lengths lying in the same plane, of a reciprocatory staple-driver adapted directly to initially engage one of said driving members, and a like reciprocatory staple-bender adapted directly to engage the other driving member, said driver and bender working in parallel relationship to planes tangential respectively to arcs described by the radii of said driving members.

9. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and an oscillatory actuator mounted thereon and provided with a pair of radially disposed driving members lying in the same plane, of a reciprocatory staple-driver adapted directly to engage one of said driving members, and a like reciprocatory staple-bender adapted directly to engage the other driving member, said driver and bender working in parallel relationship to planes tangential respectively to arcs described by the radii of said driving members, one of said radii being shorter than the other, whereby an operative succession of the two members is obtained.

10. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and a vertically disposed main actuator movably mounted thereon, of a staple-driver and a staple-bender, movably mounted on the frame and each movable relatively to the other, and means for actuating the bender within determined limits in both directions of the movement of the actuator through direct connection of the driver with different portions thereof.

11. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and an oscillating actuator mounted thereon, of a stapie-driver, a staple-bender, and a stapleshaper designed and adapted to accept motion from the actuator, and means of direct engagement between the actuator and the d iver, bender, and shaper, respectively.

12. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and an oscillatory actuator mounted thereon, of a reciprocatory staple-driver, a reciprocatory staplebender, an oscillatory staple-shaper, and means of direct engagement between the actuator and the driver, bender, and

shaper, respectively.

13. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and members constituting staple forming and setting mechanism, including an actuator, of a power supplying member, and a single readily removable means for uniting the member last named and the actuator, said means having an operating projection formed thereon.

14. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and members constituting staple forming and setting mechanism, including an actuator, of a power supplying member and its support, and a readily removable pin connecting the member last named and the actuator and having a projection constituting when in place a part of and completing the actuator.

15. In a machine ofthe kind described, the combination with a case, a staple-driver, a staple-bender, and a staple-shaper, of an actuator making actual immediate operative connection with the driver, bender and shaper, the actuator, driver, bender and. shaper being mounted upon and within the case.

16. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, of a staple driver, and a staple bender movably mounted in the frame and each movable relatively to the other, a main actuator for said bender and driver disconnected therefrom, and

means for actuating the bender in both directions within determinate limits through actual immediate contact between the actuator and the driver.

17. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame having opposed side walls, of a main actuator movably mounted therebetween, a staple driver and staple bender movably mounted on the frame and each movable relatively and yieldingly to the other, and means for actuating the bender in both directions within determinate limits through actual immediate connection between the actuator and the driver.

18. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, and an actuator movably mounted thereon, of a staple driver and a staple bender movably carried on the frame in actual immediate initial communication successively with the actuator in one direction, separate means of direct engagement between the actuator and the driver for moving the driver and bender in the opposite direction, said driver and bender being movably and yieldingly carried relatively to each other, and means for limiting the operative movement of the driver.

19. In a machine of the kind described, the combinationwith a frame, and an actuator movably mounted thereon, of a staple driver and a staple bender movably carried on the frame in actual immediate initial communication successively with the actuator in one direction, separate means of direct engagement between the actuator and the driver for moving the driver and bender in the opposite direction, said driver and bender being movably and yieldingly carried relatively to each other. and means for limiting the operative movement of the driver by limiting the stroke of the actuator.

20. In a machine of the kind described. the combination with the opposed sides of a case having formed therein a guide-way, and a face plate completing the guide-way, of a staple driver and a staple bender carried in the guide-way in operative communication with driving mechanism mounted between and supported by the sides of the case, and both being presented for removal upon removal of the face plate, said staple driver and staple bender being nested together and provided with interposed springs incorporated with them in a removable unit.

21. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with opposed supporting sides constituting a case and having formed therein a guide-way, of a removable face plate completing the guide-way, a staple driver and a staple bender reciprocatory within the guide-way, and an oscillatory actuator mounted between the sides of the case and havlng loose connection with the driver and bender respectively.

22. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with supporting side walls constituting a case and having formed therein a guide-way, of a face plate completing the guide-way, a staple driver and a staple bender reciprocatory within the guide-way, an oscillatory actuatpr mounted in the case below the guide-way and having loose connection with the driver and bender, respectively, and an oscillatory staple shaper operatively connected with and straddling the actuator Within the case.

23. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with supporting side walls constituting a case and having formed therein a guide-way, of a face plate completing the guide-way, a staple driver and a staple bender mounted in the guide-way, an oscillatory actuator and a staple shaper both mounted between the sides of the case and adapted upon the removal of the face plate, driver and bender, to be presented for inspection without disassembling the ma-- chine.

24. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with supporting side walls constituting a case and having formed therein a guide-way, of a face plate completing the guide-way, a staple driver and a staple bender mounted in the guide-way, an oscillatory actuator and a staple shaper both mounted between the sides of the case and adapted upon removal of the face plate, driver and bender, to be presented for inspection, said actuator and staple shaper being mounted upon separate pivotal members whereby said presentation is facilitated.

25. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a supporting frame constituting the opposite sides of a case, a staple driver, and a staple bender, of an actuator in actual immediate communication with the driver and bender, respec- 27. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame and members constituting a staple forming and setting mechanism, including an actuator, of a pin carried transversely in the actuator, and a button-holder for the purpose described, mounted upon the case and operatively disposed in the path of said pin, said button-holder being provided with a cam face terminating at its opposite ends in projections by which the button-holder is actuated at the beginning and end of each strgke of the actuator, for the purpose speci- 1e 28. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, a stapledriver, a staple-bender, and a staple-shaper mounted thereon, of an actuator also mounted on the frame, said actuator being in actual immediate operative engagement with said bender and driver, and a constant direct operative connection between the actuator and the shaper.

29. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, astaple forming and setting mechanism comprising a member movable shearwise against the face of the frame, of a shear plug inserted into the frame in operative juxtaposition to said movable member and provided with a slot, the bottom of which meets said movable member at an inclination.

30. In a machine of the kind described,

the combination with a frame, a staple forming and setting mechanism comprising a member movable shearwise against the face of the frame, of a shear plug inserted into the frame in operative juxtaposition to said movable member and provided with a slot having an inclined wall to define a sharp cutting edge in the plug.

31. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with a frame, staple forming and setting mechanism, and a faceplate for the frame, of headed pins upon the face-plate, a chute provided with lugs adapted to engage said pins, a projection from one of the lugs and a spring actuated dog upon the frame, provided with teeth adapted to engage said projec tion and so detachably secure the chute in place.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT J. MATTER.

lVitnesses:

JOHN B. CLELAND, HOWARD 0. ROGERS. 

